Process of reclaiming oil from the products and waste of machine-shops



(N0 Model.)

B. L. COLE. PROCESS OF REGLAIMING OIL FROM THE PRODUCTS AND WASTE OF MACHINE SHOPS.

No. 389,058. atented Sept. 4, 1888.

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UNITED STATES Arena @rrren.

EVERETT L. COLE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

PROCESS OF RHILAIMING Oli. FROM THE PRODUCTS AND WASTE OF MACHINE-SHOPS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 389,058, dated geeptenber 4. 1388- Serial No. 254,249. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EVERETT L. COLE, of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new, useful, and Improved Process for Reclaiming Oil from the Products and aste of llIachinc'Shops, of which the following is a description.

In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, and in which like letters of reference in the different figures des- 1gnate corresponding parts, I have shown an apparatus which I regard as the most satisfactory for carrying my improved process into effect, though I do not confine myself thereto, as it may be varied materially without departing from the essential features of my inven- Referring to said drawings, Figure l is a longitudinal sectional view of a tank, showing a revolnble perforated cylinder therein for agitating the materials to be cleansed, and means for removing the cylinder from the tank. Fig. 2 is a like view of the tank as it appears when the cylinder has been removed therefrom, and Fig. 3 is aface view in detail of one of the lugs or bearings for supporting the axis of the cylinder.

In the manufacture of machi nery the fitting, turning, and boring of castings, drilling and cutting of scrcwthreads, and other analogous work large quantities of oil are used to pre vent the heating and spoiling of the tools. As a good quality of lard or other expensive oil is employed, this constitutes a considerable item in the running expenses of all machine shops. In the processes heretofore employed for cleaning the various parts upon which oil has been used the oil has been wholly wasted, and the borings, filings, dust, and general refuse, with which large quantities of oil neces sarily become incorporated, have heretofore been thrown away as of no value.

It is my object to provide a simple and economical method whereby the oil thus wasted may be reclaimed and used over and over again indefinitely, the steps of which process are hereinafter more particularly described and claimed.

A in the drawings represents a tank, con structed of boiler-iron or other suitable material, which is preferably provided with a partition, 13, somewhat lower than the top of the tank, for the purpose hereinafter stated, which divides said tank into compartments A A". Said tank is filled with water to a point at or about the height of the partition B.

0 represents a service-pipe for supplying water, 0' a waste pipe, and C a coil of steanr pipe for heating the water.

D is a steam-jet for injecting steam into said tank, the same being extended into the compartment A to a point at or near the partition B, which is perforatcdto receive a larger pipe, .E, which is open at both ends and sun rounds the pipe I). Upon injecting steam therein a circulation of the liquid in the tank is maintained from the compartment A to A as indicated by the arrows shown in Fig. 1.

F is a cylinder made from perforated sheet metal, slat-s, bars, or wires, (or in any way, so that the liquid of the tank may freely circulate through it,) and is provided with journals ff, adapted to rest loosely in halfhearings a (I, attached rigidly to the walls of the tank. A bail, F, is attached to the cylinder shaft for hoisting the cylinder into or out of the tank by means of a block and tackle, G, attached to a crane.

' Ahnb, H, having radiating spokes h, is rigidlyattached to the cylindershal't for rotating the cylinder when in the tank. Said cylinder is partially or wholly filled with castings, fittings, screws, nuts, chips, shavings, cotton waste, &c., which are to be cleaned and which contain the waste oil to be reclaimed, and is hoisted into the tank upon the bearings a n, as shown in Fig. 1, the water in said tank being heated to the boilingpoint and charged with alkali in solution and hydrocarbon oil as follows, viz: crystal carbonate ofsoda and common kerosene-oil, in the proportions of about seven pounds of the former and one quart of the latter to one hundred gallons of water. After agitating the articles in the cylinder, by revolvingthe latter until they are well cleaned and the waste oil therein thoroughly cut and incorporated with the solution in the tank, (which is greatly assisted by the circulationlof the water from one compartment to the other, caused by the steam-jet 1),) the cylinder is hoisted from the tank, after which the oil may be separated from the water.

One object of employing two compartments in the tank and maintaining a circulation by IOO means of the steam-jet is to induce a current from the larger to the smaller tank, as indicated, so that such oil as may tend to float upon the surface may be collected in the smaller tank, as indicated at a, Fig. 1, so that when the cylinder F is removed the floating oil will not collect therein or adhere thereto, though this may be prevented by skimming the surface before removing the cylinder should a single tank be employed, which may be done with good results. After removing the receptacle containing the cleaned articles or material, I introduce an acid reagent into the tank to precipitate the alkali. The reagent which I prefer to employ for this purpose iscommercial sulphuric acid, in the proportion of about one pound to one hundred gallons of the cleaning solution above named. As soon as the reaction is complete, the oily substance or emulsion is skimmed from the top, to which it rises, and is placed in a sepa rate vessel, when it is ready to be clarified. The clarification may be accomplished in any one of various well-known ways, but preferably as follows: Place the emulsion in a closed tank and subject it to steam-pressure for ten or twelve hours; then allow it to settle about the same time, when the clear oil may be drawn off. It should then be washed with steam and a weak solution ofalkali,to neutralize all traces of acid, if any, remaining therein, when it is ready for use.

In lieu of the steam bath for clarifying the oily emulsion, it may be treated as follows with very satisfactory results: Stir into the emulsion about one-fourth of one per cent. of dilute sulphuric acid until it is well incorporated therewith, and allow it to stand for ten or twelve hours, after which draw off the clear oil and treat the residue as follows: Add from five to ten per cent. of hydrocarbon oil, naphtha, or equivalent solvent; one and onehalf per cent. of dilute sulphuric acid, and agitate with steam for about one hour; then add about five per cent. of common salt with about onefourth of one per cent. of powdered alum, and allow the solution to stand for two days, or thereabout, when the clear oil may be withdrawn. Upon neutralizing the acid therein, as above stated, the oil will be ready for use.

YVhile I prefer to employ carbonate of soda in the cleaning solution as being less liable to saponify the oil, it is obvious that any other alkali may be used, due regard being had to its proportionate strength. I would suggest the following alkalies,in about the proportions named, respectively, to one hundred gallons of water as the chemical equivalents of the carbonate of soda: caustic potash, two and three-fourth pounds; quicklime, one and onehalf pound; pure caustic soda, two pounds;

. dry carbonate of potassa, six pounds.

By mixing the hydrocarbon oil with the alkali, as stated, the oil to be reclaimed may be loosened and wholly separated from the material containing it without requiring the alkali to be of such a strength as to saponify said oil. This feature'is all important, as the oil cannot be reclaimed in its original state when once saponified, but will continue to remain a sticky viscid mass, only fit for inferior uses. It is essential, therefore, that the h ydrocarbon oil or its equivalent and the alkali should be combined in the first step of releasing the oleaginous matter from the waste or other material with which it is mixed, as the one coaets with the other in releasing the oil,

while the hydrocarbon oil employed forthe purpose is not sufficient in quantity, if allowed to remain. to injure the quality of the reclaimed oil, and the alkali may be readilyseparated therefrom by neutralization.

It is obvious that any acid may be used as a reagent to precipitate the alkali, and any form of hydrocarbon oilas naphtha, petroleum, or kerosenemay be employed as a solvent; but I prefer to use sulphuric acid and kerosene, as stated.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. The process of reclaiming oil from the products and waste of machine-shops, consisting in agitating the parts or waste containing the oil in a heated bath of water, alkali, and hydrocarbon oil, neutralizing the alkali from the solution, and, finally, removing the separated oil and clarifying it in any well-known way, substantially as described.

2. In theprocess of reclaiming oil from the products and waste of machine-shops, first, agitating the parts or waste containing the oil in a heated bath containing water, carbonate of soda, and hydrocarbon oil, in the proportions of seven pounds of soda and one quart of oil or thereabout to one hundred gallons of water; secondly, neutralizing the'alkali in solution by means of an acid reagent and separating the oil, and, finally, clarifying said oil in any well-known way.

3. In .the process of reclaiming oil from the products and waste of machine-shops, first, agitating the parts or waste containing the oil in aheated bath ofwater, carbonate ofsoda,and hydrocarbon oil, in the proportions of seven pounds of soda and one quart of oil or thereabout to one hundred gallons of water; secondly, neutralizing the alkali in solution by means ofan acid reagent and separating theoil; thirdly, subjecting said oil to steam-pressure in a closed tank and allowing it to settle, and, finally, withdrawing the clear oil and neutralizing the acid therein, substantially as described.

EVERETT L. COLE. Witnesses:

D. H. FLETCHER, J. B. HALPENNY.

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